Huskies show off for NFL scouts

Alfred Fincher
, the unsung middle linebacker, bet who would be picked higher in the 2005 NFL draft.

"We actually put our signing bonuses on it," Orlovsky joked. "But when we realized how much money that could be, we just made a little bet. He'll probably end up going ahead of me because he's more ready to play. But we'll see. We'll find out."

As part of the draft process, 23 NFL scouts, coaches and front-office personnel visited
Greer Field House
on Thursday for UConn's NFL pro scout day. In all, representatives from 20 of the NFL's 32 franchises watched 11 seniors and 2004 graduate
Sean Mulcahy
run the 40-yard dash, sidestep orange cones and battle the odds.

"Every time you come into a situation like this, it's a risk. I look at it as life and death. I honestly do," said Fincher, who didn't run the 40-yard dash Thursday, but hit the line in 4.68 seconds last month at the
NFL Combine
in Indianapolis.

"You just have to come out here and perform, and hopefully, all the hard work pays off," Fincher said. "If I'm going to be doing this for a living, I owe it to myself - and everyone who's helped me get to this point - to put myself in the best possible position to succeed."

Orlovsky, who is widely projected as a third- or fourth-round pick next month, took a different view.

"My thought process was to come out today and help myself and I thought I did," said Orlovsky, who had a long sit down with Cincinnati earlier in the day. "A risk? Nah. That's just like a pitcher saying, 'I don't want to pitch. It's too risky.' If you've got confidence, go out and play."

Although Orlovsky ran a 4.93 in the 40 at the NFL Combine, his passes were strong and accurate Thursday. If nothing else, Orlovsky caught the eye of Green Bay, Chicago and Miami. All three franchises expressed interest in the 6-foot-5 quarterback from Shelton.

King didn't disappoint, either. He ran with calculated abandon in Storrs, especially in the 40-yard dash, when he growled across the finish line during his first attempt.

"I just wanted to prove to everyone what I'm capable of," said King, who broke his right leg last September in UConn's 29-17 win over Pittsburgh, but returned to earn UAW Lineman of the Game at the Motor City Bowl. "The first step was the combine, obviously. But today was D-Day for me. It was do or die for me. But I think I proved to everyone I've still got it."

Although Cutaia and Henry also helped themselves, neither one is expected to be drafted.

After moving from quarterback to wideout at UConn, Henry could be a priority free agent this summer and sign as a strong safety, predicted
John Dorsey
, Green Bay's Director of
College Scouting
.

And yet, like everyone else here, Dorsey was enamored with Fincher, who led the Big East with 140 tackles last season and ranked sixth in the nation with 11.67 tackles per game.

"To show the determination, the grit and the intestinal fortitude that guy's got, he's going to will himself (into the NFL) and he did that by making plays," said Dorsey, a 1983 UConn graduate and former Packers linebacker. "I went to the Pittsburgh game and I believe the guy had (17) tackles. I mean, it was impressive."